There's a common misconception that if you like to meticulously organize your things,
有个常见的误解，那就是如果你喜欢一丝不苟的整理你的东西，
keep your hands clean, or plan out your weekend to the last detail, you might have OCD.
经常洗手，或者无微不至的计划你的周末，你就可能有强迫症。
In fact, OCD, which stands for obsessive compulsive disorder,
事实上，强迫症的全名是强迫性神经官能症，
is a serious psychiatric condition that is frequently misunderstood by society and mental health professionals alike.
是一个经常被社会和心理健康专业人士误解的精神疾病。
So let's start by debunking some myths.
我们今天就破解一下关于强迫症的迷思。
Myth one: repetitive or ritualistic behaviors are synonymous with OCD.
迷思之一：重复或仪式性的行为是强迫症的同义词。
As its name suggests, obsessive compulsive disorder has two aspects:
顾名思义，强迫性神经官能症包含了两方面：
the intrusive thoughts, images, or impulses, known as obsessions,
内在的想法、印象、或者冲动，又称为强迫思维，
and the behavioral compulsions people engage in to relieve the anxiety the obsessions cause.
以及为了疏缓这种强迫思维导致的不安，而作出的强迫性行为。
The kinds of actions that people often associate with OCD,
一提起强迫症，大家通常联想起的，
like excessive hand washing, or checking things repeatedly,
比如频繁的洗手，或者一而再地查看着东西，
may be examples of obsessive or compulsive tendencies that many of us exhibit from time to time.
可能为有强迫性行为倾向的表现，大部分的人偶而会有这种行为。
But the actual disorder is far more rare and can be quite debilitating.
但是真正的病症极为罕见，而且会令患者十分虚弱。
People affected have little or no control over their obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors,
受影响的患者无法控制自己的强迫性想法和行为，
which tend to be time consuming and interfere with work, school or social life to the point of causing significant distress.
这不仅耗费时间，还会影响工作、学习和社交生活，甚至会导致严重的忧虑。
This set of diagnostic criteria is what separates people suffering from OCD
这一系列的诊断标准，将强迫症患者
from those who may just be a bit more meticulous or hygiene obsessed than usual.
和比常人更一丝不苟或注意清洁的的正常人区分开来。
Myth two: the main symptom of OCD is excessive hand washing.
迷思之二：强迫症的一大症状为太常洗手。
Although hand washing is the most common image of OCD in popular culture,
虽然洗手是大多数人眼中的典型强迫症表现，
obsessions and compulsions can take many different forms.
但是其实强迫思维和行为是多种多样的。
Obsessions can manifest as fears of contamination and illness,
强迫思维主要体现为对污染和疾病的极度恐惧，
worries about harming others, or preoccupations with numbers, patterns, morality, or sexual identity.
担心伤害到其他人，或者对数字、图案、道德、性别认定的过分执着。
And compulsions can range from excessive cleaning or double checking,
强迫性行为可以从过度清洁到反复检查,
to the fastidious arrangement of objects, or walking in predetermined patterns.
甚至到过分严谨的摆设物品，或是以既定的方式走路。

Myth three: individuals with OCD don't understand that they are acting irrationally.
迷思之三：有强迫症的人不知道自己表现的很不寻常。
Many individuals with OCD actually understand the relationship between their obsessions and compulsions quite well.
许多有强迫症的人其实理解自己的癖好和强烈冲动的关系。
Being unable to avoid these thoughts and actions despite being aware of their irrationality is part of the reason why OCD is so distressing.
尽管他们意识到它的不合理性，还是无法避免那些想法和行为，这是强迫症使人痛苦的原因之一。
OCD sufferers report feeling crazy for experiencing anxiety based on irrational thoughts
强迫症患者称自己像发了疯一样，因为不理性的想法而焦躁不安，
and finding it difficult to control their responses.
可是又无法控制自己的反应。
So what exactly causes OCD? The frustrating answer is we don't really know.
究竟是什么导致了强迫症？让人沮丧的是，我们对此并不清楚。
However, we have some important clues.
但是我们有一些很重要的线索。
OCD is considered a neurobiological disorder.
强迫症被认为是神经错乱。
In other words, research suggests that OCD sufferers brains are actually hardwired to behave in a certain fashion.
换句话说，研究发现，强迫症患者的大脑事实上早被限定了，要做出特定风格之举动。
Research has implicated three regions of the brain variously involved in social behavior and complex cognitive planning,
研究指向大脑的三个区块，分别涉入了社交行为、复杂的认知建立、
voluntary movement, and emotional and motivational responses.
自主性动作以及情绪与干劲的反应。
The other piece of the puzzle is that OCD is associated with low levels of serotonin,
其他费解的地方是强迫症与低水平的血清素有关，
a neurotransmitter that communicates between brain structures
一种在大脑组织之间传递信息的神经传递素，
and helps regulate vital processes, such as mood, aggression, impulse control, sleep, appetite, body temperature and pain.
并且帮助控制如情绪、好斗、脉冲控制、睡眠、食欲、身体温度和疼痛等重要过程的神经传递素。
But are serotonin and activity in these brain regions the sources of OCD or symptoms of an unknown underlying cause of the disorder.
但是血清素和大脑区块活动是否为强迫症的起因，或者其他不知原因的症状暗藏着病因。
We probably won't know until we have a much more intimate understanding of the brain.
直到我们更通晓大脑前，我们可能不得而知。
The good news is there are effective treatments for OCD,
好消息是对强迫症有效的疗法是存在的，
including medications, which increase serotonin in the brain by limiting its reabsorption by brain cells,
包括了增加大脑内血清素的药物，阻止血清素被大脑细胞再吸收回去，
behavioral therapy that gradually desensitizes patients to their anxieties,
以及使病人对焦虑逐渐感到麻木的行为疗法，
and in some cases, electroconvulsive therapy, or surgery, when OCD doesn't respond to other forms of treatment.
当强迫症对其他疗法没反应时，部分案例中就用电疗或是做手术。
Knowing that your own brain is lying to you while not being able to resist its commands can be agonizing.
知道自己的大脑正在说谎，这时候又无法抗拒它的指令，会是非常痛苦的事。
But with knowledge and understanding comes the power to seek help,
不过有了知识和理解，也就有求助的力量，
and future research into the brain may finally provide the answers we're looking for.
以及未来对大脑的研究或许最终能给我们想要的答案。